Device for examining a sample of syrup or masse-cuite.



APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, IQIB.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

w n w wag UNITED STATES PATENT enrich.

WILLIAM A. BALDWIN, OF HAIKU, TERRITORY OF I-IAWAIL' DEVICE FOR EXAMINING A SAMPLE OF SYRUP B 1VIASSE-CUITE.

Application filed May 17, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haiku, in the county of Maui and Territory of Hawaii, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Examining a Sample of Syrup or Masse-Cuite, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for examining a sample of syrup or massecuite of cane or sugar beet during its concentration for grain formation in vacuum pans, for the purpose of accurately determining the num her or frequency of the crystals per given unit of volume, thus enabling the operator to know, beyond peradventure, when the strike should begin, 2'. 6., the time at which it contains grains of the proper number.

In practice the time at which to arrest the formation of the grain is determined by the operator by means of some simple tests of rather superficial. character addressed to his skill and experience and whose results are, therefore, only approximate. Since the determination of the frequency of the minute sugar crystals is thus purely a matter of judgment on the part of the operator and it is impossible to accurately judge the actual frequency of the grain, in the sample taken, it follows that wide variations in the size of the grains in the strikes are not uncommon.

The present invention provides'a device by which samples of an invariable volume may be taken wherever desired and examined microscopically to enable an actual count of the number of crystals which they contain. In this way, the operator will have positive knowledge of the frequency of the grains and will know, infallibly, the right time at which to arrest the formation of grain.

The invention consists in certain novel features of structure, combination and relation which will appear as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein V Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a device in which the features of the invention are incorporated; Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing the parts at the end of the microscope opposite the eye-piece endthereof; and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Serial No. 95,233.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The device includes a microscope 1 equipped with the usual eye-piece 2 and a holder or support for the microscope which, in the present embodiment, consists of a casing having as a part thereof a suitably packed cylindrical body 3 in which the microscope 1 has a frictional sliding fit. If desired, the microscope tube may be threaded in the body 3. To facilitate the sliding movement of the microscope in either direction, it is provided with a hand-wheel 4 arranged near the eye-piece 2. The casing in which the microscope is mounted includes, in addition to the cylindrical body 3, a sleeve 1 connected to the said cylindrical body and a housing 5 connected to the lower or outer end of the sleeve 1 and inclosing an incandescent electric lamp 6. The wiring 7 for the lamp 6 is a ranged in a conduit 8 which has at its lower or outer end a gooseneck 9 threaded into the base of the housing 5. The conduit 8 extends in parallel relation to the casing composed of the parts 3, 1 and 5, and its upper end is preferably secured in a flange 10 formed in one with the cylindrical body 3.

The microscope tube carries at its end opposite the eye-piece 2 a bushing 11 which is secured on said tube in any suitable manner and has a measurably. close fit against the sleeve l. The bushing 11 is provided with a disk-like base 12 having a central opening 13. A transparent disk 14 fits closely against the upper or inner face of the base 12 and is held in this relation by a spacing ring 15 abutting the lower or outer endof the microscope.

The opening 18 provides a pocket in which a sample of syrup or massecuite is trapped for examination and this pocket, in the use of the device, is between the remote faces of the transparent disk 14: and a com panion disk 16 and is, therefore, completely inclosed, at its sides by the base 12, at one end by the transparent disk 14, and at its opposite end by the transparent disk 16. The disk 16 is stationarily mounted in the casing which incloses the microscope, and,-

as shown, has a seating in abutting flanged rings 17 and 18, the former bearlng against a shoulder 19 formed internally of the sleeve i andadjoining the base 12 and the latter bearing against a shoulder provided by the upper or inner end of the housing The rings 17 and 18 have a liquid-tight against one another, and for this purpose, 2 packing gasket, or, it might be, a layer of cement 20, is arranged between the adjoining faces of said rings. The base 12 is formed to project into the ring 17 and to fit squarely against the disk 16, as clearly shown in Fig. The sleeve 4 is provided adjacent the bushing 11 with a number of openings 21 through which the syrup to be sampled may circulate freely. To promote free circulation of the syrup the outer face of the bushing 11 is tapering or conical form adjacent the base 12. In taking a sample, the microscope is moved to space the base 12 from the transparent disk 16 whereby the syrup will flow between said base and said disk. Thereupon, the microscope is moved inwardly until the base 12 contacts with the disk 16, at which time, a known volume of the syrup will be trapped in the opening 13. The sample thus trapped is then examined under the microscope and an actual count of the number f crystals which it contains is made. To facilitate such count, the disk 14 may have one of its surfaces provided with cross-hairs in order to sub-divide the opening 13. The central opening of the ring 15, the opening 13 and the central openings of the rings 17 and 18 and the lamp 6 are, of course, in the line of vision of the microscope.

In order to clean the transparent disks lat and 16, the base 12 and the wall of the opening 13, water or steam or any other suitable cleansing agent may be introduced between the base 12 and the plate 16 when these elements are spaced, as shown in Fig. 2. To facilitate this, the sleeve 45* has connected therewith a pipe 22 through which the water or steam is introduced into the space developed between the plate 12 and the disk 16 by a movement of the microscope outwardly of its casing.

As shown, the microscope is permanently combined with the vacumn pan, and for this purpose, the flange 10 is connected by bolt tastenings 23 to the wall 24 of the vacuum pan. It will be understood, however, that the device may be employed independently of the vacuum pan, in which case, samples of syrup Or massecuite may be obtained by means of the ordinary sugar boilers proofstick, or otherwise, and injected or poured into the openings 21.

The device may be easily and quickly operated in the manner described and, hence, samples may be taken and examined at close intervals.

It will be understood that no specific description herein contained is intended to put any limitation upon the scope of the appended claims which does not inhere in the lan ua 'e thereof.

I claim--- 1. A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a support therefor, the microscope and its support being rela lively movable and means including elementscarried by said microscope and said support for trapping a definite volume of liquid for examination under the microscope.

A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a support therefor, the microscope and its support being relatively movable, means including elements carried by said microscope and said support for trapping a definite volume of liquid for examination under the microscope, and a source of li 'ht carried by said support for co-action with said means.

3. A device of the character described comprising a means for trapping adefinite volume of liquid for examination which includes a pair of transparent plates and a central pocket for which said plates form a closure, a movably mounted microscope carrying one of said plates, and means carrying the other plate and providing a support for the microscope.

4. A device of the character described comprising a means for trapping a definite volume of liquid for examination which includes a pair of transparent plates and an intermediate element having a central pocket for which said plates form a closure, at movably mounted microscope carrying one of said plates and means carrying the other plate and providing a support for the micro scope.

5. A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a holder in which the microscope is movably mounted and means for trapping within the holder a definite volume of liquid for examination under the microscope including a pair of transparent plates, one rigid with the holder and the other carried by the microscope.

6. A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a. holder in which the microscope is movably mounted, means for trapping within the holder a definite volume of liquid for examination under the microscope including a pair of transparent plates, one rigid with the holder and the other carried by the microscope, and a lamp carried by the holder under the transparent plate rigid therewith.

7 A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a holder in which the microscope is movably mounted, and means for trapping within the holder a definite volume of liquid for examination under the microscope including a pair of transparent plates, one rigid with the holder and the other carried by the microscope and an element intermediate said plates provided with a central opening.

8. A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a casing in which the microscope is fitted for lengthwise movement, a transparent disk rigidly fitted in the casing under the microscope, and means carried by the microscope and including a second transparent disk for co-action with said first disk in trapping a definite volume of liquid, the casing having openings through which the liquid to be examined may circulate.

9. A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a casing in which the microscope is fitted for lengthwise movement, a transparent disk rigidly fitted in the casing under the microscope, a bushing carried by the microscope having a base adjoining said disk and provided with a central opening and a second transparent disk fitted between said base and the adja cent end of the microscope, the casing having openings through which the liquid to be examined may circulate.

10. A device of the character described comprising a microscope, a casing in which the microscope is fitted for lengthwise movement, a transparent disk rigidly fitted in the casing under the microscope, the casing including alamp housing below said disk, a lamp within said housing, and means carried by the microscope and including a second transparent disk for co-action with said first disk in trapping a definite volume of liquid, the casing having openings through which the liquid to be examined mayncirculate.

11. A device of the character described having a pair of relatively movable transparent plates and a central pocket between the remote faces of the plates.

12. In a device of the character described, a pair or" relatively movable transparent plates and an intermediate element having a central pocket for which the plates provide end closures.

13. A device of the character described having a pair of relatively movable transparent plates and a central pocket between the remote faces of the plates, a microscope, and a casing in which the plates and the microscope are arranged, the plates being arranged under and in the line of vision of the microscope and the casing having openings through which liquid may gain access to said central pocket in the spaced relation of the plates.

14:. A device of the character described having a pair of relatively movable transparent plates and a central pocket between the remote faces of the plates, a microscope,

a casing in which the plates and the microscope are arranged, the plates being arranged under and in the line of vision of the microscope and the casing having openings through which liquid may gain access to said central pocket in the spaced relation of the plates, and a lamp carried by the casing and arranged under the plates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. BALDWIN. Witnesses:

AKI TOM, E. S. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

